Ventilated cushion



April 2, 1963 M. N. KARBIN ET AL 3,375,535

VENTILATED CUSHION Filed March l5, 1967 United States Patent O 3,375,535VENTILATED CUSHION Menard N. Karbin, 5615 N. Spalding, and ArnoldKarbin, 3741 W. Leland, both of Chicago, Ill. 60625 Filed Mar. 15, 1967,Ser. No. 623,328 2 Claims. (Cl. 5-347) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE AVentilating cushion including a border frame and a single length ofcoiled wire wound across t-he frame in segments alternately above andbelow the frame and at an angle to the frame center line and to eachother and out of contact with each other.

This invention includes a cushion formed of a border wire frame, asingle length of coiled wire having segments lying across and about theframe at an angle with the frame center line and with each other and outof Contact with each other, the segments bowing alternately above andbelow the frame and a cover enclosing the frame and coiled wire.

One purpose of the invention is to provide a ventilated cushion havingmaximum air-circulating space therewith- 1n.

Another purpose is to provide a ventilated spring cushion having meansinsuring against the shifting of spring coil lengths while maintainingmaximum air-circulating space within the cushion.

Another purpose is to provide a ventilated spring cushion having maximumfreedom from uneven or bumpy surfaces.

Another purpose is to provide a ventilated spring cushion wherein coilspring lengths are employed in their original configuration and withoutthe necessity for ilattening or otherwise deforming the curvature of anycoils in said lengths.

Another purpose is to provide a ventilated spring cushion capable ofrapid production and maximum economy in production and material cost.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a planar view;

FIGURE 2. is an end view; and

FIGURE 3 is another end view.

Like parts are indicated by like numerals throughout the specificationand claims.

Referring now to t-he drawings, FIGURE 1 shows a spring cushionconstructed in accordance with the invention and having a border frame 1formed of a continuous length of rela-tively firm wire material. Asshown, the frame 1 constitutes a length of wire bent upon itself in ageneral cartouche design, the opposite ends of the wire length beingsecured together as indicated, for example, at 2 to form a continuouslength, the juncture 2 being formed in any suitable manner, such as by abutt weld. The frame 1 includes unbroken opposite side portions 3, 4, arear portion 5 and a forward portion 6. The portions 5 and 6 have aplurality of spaced indentations 7 inwardly directed with respect to theframe 1. A single continuous length of coiled spring wire, indicatedgenerally by the numeral 8, is positioned within the frame 1. One end ofthe coil spring length 8 is joined to an end indentation 7 of frameportion 6, as indicated at 7a. The member 8 thence extends across theframe 1 and is turned about an end indentation on the frame portion 5,as indicated at 7b. From the point 7b the coil length 8 is reversed,extending again across the frame 1 at a slight angle to a center linethereof and is wrapped Patented Apr. 2, 1968 ICC about the indentationadjacent point 7a as indicated at 7c. It will be apparent from thedrawing that this process is continued, the length 8 being wound acrossthe frame 1 and engaging sequential indentations 7 on the frame portions6 and 5, the distal end of coil spring length 8 being secured to anindentation 7 adjacent the side frame portion 3.

Indicated generally by the numeral 9 is a cover for the cushion of theinvention, the cover 9 being formed of air permeable material andcovering the upper and lower surfaces of the frame 1, edges of the upperand lower material pieces being joined together in a border as indicatedat 10.

Whereas there has been shown and described an operative form of theinvention, it should be understood that this showing and description areto be taken in an illustrative or diagrammatic sense only. There aremany modiiications in and to the invention which will be apparent tothose skilled in the art and which will fall within the scope and spiritof the invention.

The use and operation of the invention are as follows:

The product of the invention is capable of rapid production. A singleborder wire frame member 1 has its portions 5, 6 indented and is joinedtogether at 2 to form the frame 1. A single piece of wire coil 8 is thenjoined at one end to an end indentation on the frame portion 5 or 6 andwound about the sequential indentations 7, its opposite end beingsecured to the last such identation. The frame may, of course, berotated to wind the coil length 8 alternately across the identations inthe frame portions 5 and 6 to form the structure illustrated in thedrawings. The tension of the coil surface is determined by theindividual coil selected for extension about the side frame portions 5and 6 and the indentations 7 are of suicient depth to insure againstescape of said coils. The cover is then placed upon the resulting frameand spring structure to form the cushion of the invention.

While a single cushion element is illustrated in the drawings, it willbe understood that a combination seatand-back cushion may be formed inthe same manner, a structure corresponding substantially to that ofFIGURE l serving as both the seat and back portions. In such event thecover 9 may conveniently extend across both seat and back portions, theopposite end segments of such elongated cover being joined between apair of frames 1 to form a hinge.

A minimum of coil spring wire is required in the cushion of the presentinvention, thus providing a maximum air ow space through the cushion.Shifting or spreadingapart of the individual cross-lengths of the singlecoil 8 is prevented by the identations 7 in the frame portions 5 and 6.Intersecting and interlocking lengths of coil wire are avoided, thusreducing the amount of coil wire within the cushion and providingmaximum air ow space. The avoidance of such intersecting rows of coilsfurther escapes any need for compressing or pressing the wire coillengths to insure interlocking thereof. As may be readily seen inFIGURES 2 and 3, the individual cross-portions of coil length 8extending across the frame 1 may bow upwardly in their excursion acrossthe frame in their free state. It will be realized that the cover 9 maytend to compress or lower the said lengths into a closer planaralignment with the frame 1. Since the individual portions of coil length8 extending across the frame are separated 4from each other, they arefree to move into such planar or horizontal alignment in response tocompression of the cover and to move further into such alignment inresponse to the weight of the user when the cushion is sat or leanedupon. Uncomfortable bumps or rigid irregularities are also avoided bythe separation of the individual coil portions extending across theframe 1 and without the necessity of attening 3 the coils thereof topreclude such bumps or irregularities. The frame 1, having a wirediameter substantially less than the diameter of the coils of length 8,is not felt by the user'whose body is, of course, supported by the coilsof length 8 and an individual coil of length 8 extends about the sideframes 5, 6 in securing, simply and securely, the coil surface to frame1, as may be seen in the drawings.

There is claimed:

1. A Ventilating cushion comprising a bend resistant border wire framehaving indentations formed in two opposite side portions, a singlelength of coiled spring wire extending across said frame between saidside portions, said length of coiled spring wire being wrapped aroundthe border wire frame and engaging each of said indentations andsubstantially filling the space within said frame in individual coiledwire segments, said segments individually extending alternately aboveand below said frame; said indentations in said border wire frame beingso related that said segments lie at an to a center line 0f said frameand are out of contact with each other and a cover enclosing said frameand coiled wire length.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein each said segment lies at an anglewith respect to an adjacent segment.

References Cited Y UNITED STATES PATENTS BOBBY R. GAY, Primary Examiner.

DAVID I. WILLIAMOWSKY, Examiner.` ANDREW M. CALVERT, Assistant Examiner.

angle with respect

